Electric iron



n. B. BENJAMIN.

ELECTRIC lRON. APPLICATION mio nic. 8,1919.

1,39 1,296, Patented Sept. 20, 1921.

2 SHEETS-#SHEET I.

Wo rn egys R. BI BENJAMIN. ELEcTmc mon.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 8, 1919.

Patented Sept 20, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATESy REUBEN E. BENJAMIN, oF CHICAGO, ILLINoIs, AssIGNoR ToBENJAMIN ELECTRIC:r

eA'rlaiNr l OFFICE.

. MANUFACTURING COMPANY, for CHICAGO, ILLINOIS," Ay CORPORATION 0EILLINOIS.

y n ..Application led December To all whom it may concern:

- Be itknown that I, REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinventedy new and useful Im-y provements in Electric Irons, of whichrthe following ris a full, clear, concise, and exact description',referencejbeing had to theY ac- Oneof the objects yof my invention is toprovide improved means .fory automatically ,n opening they circuit, thuspreventing unde.y

- sirable'results in case the iron is allowed to with thesource of cur'stand connected up rent supply. i

y A furtherv object of `my `invention is to provide a construction whichwill be simple, cheapto manufacture, durable and eiicient inuse. j@

Another-object of thisinvention is to provide means Awhereby the user ofthe iron may regulate, either while the iron is in use ory before usingthe same, v the temperature atwhich thecircuitwill be opened' by theautomatic means. .In thefuse of this kiron vthe operator may Set theautomatic means to open either at a comparatively low tempera- Figure 1is a vertical sectional view7 of IiIlyL device; y l

Fig. 2 is a sectional vview takenon the line 2--2 of Fig. `1; v

Fig: 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; l

Fig'. 4 is a detail view ofya part of the switch controlling mechanism,f

f ELECTRIC IRoN.

Y'Specificatiim o1' Letters atent. Patented Sept. 20, 1921.

8, 1919. Serial No. 343,251.

Fig. 5 is a detail` view fromthe rear end of the handle portion showingmeans whereby said iron is electrically connected;

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of a part of the switch mechanism; i

Fig. 7 is a plan viewof the vthermostatic switch controlling mechanism;and y Fig. .8 is .a detail perspectivel view of the Vfree ends of thethermostatic plates sepai rated lfrom each other.

In order to give a generalidea of my invention, I will outline brieflysome of the main features of construction before. describing the partsin detail. iron shown comprises the body portion 10 of the iron whichbody contains an electrical resistance forming the heating element 11, ahandle 12 securedtothe body 10 for manipulating the iron, aV plug-indevice 13 for connecting up the iron with the feed wires 14, a switchmechanism 15 for controlling the circuit ybetween the feed Wires 14 ofthe heating element 11 and a thermostatic `element 16 controlled, by theheating element.

11 and in turn controlling the switch mechswitch mechanism to allow itto move to off position incase the heatv becomes excessive. i

In the ordinary use of the iron, the heat is conducted away from thefaceof the iron due to rthe moving contact betweenthe face of the iron andthefgoods which are being ironed. 'f This conduction of the heat awayfrom the face ofthe iron keeps the temperature ofthe iron down to'whatmay be termed normal temperature for working.` If, however, the iron isallowed to stand and par-K ticularly if it is yallowed to stand withthey face of the iron in contact with the goods, the heat is notconducted away very rapidly and the temperatureofthe body portion 10 ofthe iron rises and becomes excessive and results in damage to the goodsand to the iron and possibly results in a fire unless means are providedto prevent this excessive rise of temperature. A For the purpose ofpreventing this excessive rise in temperature, the connection betweenthe thermostatic element 16 and the switch mechanism 15 is so madefthatwhen the temperature of the iron exceeds a predetermined degreewhich has been determined as kthe critical temperature, the thermostaticelement will n act to cause the switch mechanism to be The electricmoved to oit position to disconnect the heating element 11.

I will now describe the construction in detail. The body portion 10 ofthe iron comprises upper and lower portions 17 and 1S respectivelybetweenwhich the heating element 11 is located, the portions 17 and 18being held together by means of screws 19.

The thermostatic elementi 16 comprises two strips 2O and 21respectively, these strips being of different material (for instance theupper one may be of steel and the lower one zinc) having differentcoefficients of expansion for heat, the coefficient of expansion of thelower strip 21 being greater than the coefficient of expansion of theupper strip 2O so that under the influence of heat, the compositeelement will tend to straighten out as the two strips are securedtogether at one end at 22 and their other end irmly secured to the base10 by means of a screw 23.

In order to prevent possible injury to the thermostatic element due toexcessive high temperature, a sheet of heat insulating material 24 maybe placed between the thermostatic element and the main body 10 of theiron.

The manner in which the two strips 2O and 21 are secured together at 23is indicated in Fig. 8. As shown in Fig. 8, the upper strip 20 has anoii`set shoulder portion 275 having an opening 26 therein, and the lowerstrip 21 has an offset shoulder portion 27 and has a tongue 28 struck uptherefrom which extends through the opening 26 in the upper strip 2O andpositions the members 20 and 21 with respect to each other and holds theshoulder portions 25 and 27 in engagement with each other.

The thermostatic element 16 is housed by means of a sheet metal cover 29which is secured to the body portion 10 ot the. iron by means of screws30 which screws 30 also serve to hold the handle 12 in position on thebody 10. For this purpose the screws 30 extend through openings in theU-shaped strip 31 which is secured to the handle proper 12 by means ot arod 32 and a nut 33 threaded on the end of the rod 32. Washers 30a areplaced between the sheet metal cover 29 and the strip 31, the screws 30extending through said washers 30, the sheet metal cover 29, thethermostatic element 16 and the heat insulating plate 24 and beingthreaded into the base member 17.

The handle 12 is made in two halves which are recessed so as to inclosebetween Ythem the switch mechanism 15 and associated parts, the handleparts being held together in any suitable manner.

The switch mechanism 15 comprises two stationaryr contact members 34(Fig. 3), a

pivoted bridging member 35 which electrically connects the contacts 34in the on position of the switch, a coil tension spring 36 pivotallyconnected at one end to the pivoted bridging member 35 and a springactuated plunger 37 to which the other end of the spring 36 is pivotallyconnected at 38. This spring actuated plunger 37 is normally held in theposition shown in Fig. 1 by the engagement of a shoulder portion 39 witha latch member 40 (Figs. 1 and 4).

The spring actuated plunger 37 is released from the latch member 40 whenthe emergency arises by means of a lift rod 41, the lower end of whichrests on the free end of the thermostatic element 16 and the upper endof which engages underneath the spring actuated plunger 37. This liftrod 41 is `guided in an opening 42 in the cover 29 and in an opening'ina small bracket 43 which-is secured to the strap 31.

For actuating the plunger when it is released from the latch 39, a coilcompression spring 44 is provided. one end of which bears against theshoulder 45 on the plunger and the other end of which bears against anabutment portion 46 of the switch frame 47 (Fig. 6). The pivotedbridging member 35 is mounted on two laterally extending lugs 48 struckup from the switch frame 47 which switch frame is secured to one of thehalves ot the handle 12 by means ot an eyelet 49, and is positioned inthe handle by means oit lugs 50 which engage corresponding recesses 51in the handle 12.

In order to insulate a portion of the plunger 37 which engages the latchmember 40, the metal part of the plunger is made in two portions whichare connected together by insulating strips 52 (Fig. 1) so that theportion of the plunger 37 which extends outwardly at the front end ofthe handle is not electrically connected with the switch frame andbridging member which switch trame and bridging member, as will benoted, are live parts when the switch is in on position.

In order to change the point at which the spring plunger will beautomatically released by the thermostatic element, the retaining latchmember 40 is made manually adjustable. for this purpose being pivoted tothe handle 12 at 53, this latch member being movable from the dottedline position shown t0 the full line position so that the upper edge ofthe latch member which engages the spring plunger (see Fig. 1) can beraised or lowered so as to require a greater or less lift of the liftrod 41 to release the spring pressed plunger.

The handle 12 has mounted thereto a pair of stationary contact blades 54(Figs. 1 and 3) for engagement with the contacts carried by the cap 55of the plug-in device 13, this cap having binding terminals elecfeedwires 14.` v

trically connec tedi'with its contacts for the ductor 56,rtht-#conductor 56 leading tothe t heating element `11 located in thebody 10 of the,l iron, the current flowing from the conductor 456Vthrough the heating element and thence through a conductor 57 to the,-other vswitch contact' 34 of the switch. I 1When`the` switch is in onposition as shown in Fig. 3, the circuit. is from one ofthefcon'tactsk54 through'the conductors 56, heating element11,:condu`ctor 57, one of the switch 'contacts 34, through the bridgingelement'35,to the otherswitch contact 34 and thenceto theothercontact'blade 54.

`When theswitch is in ol' position'the circuit` is broken at two pointsby thek bridgy king element 35 moving out frombetween the the s ringactuatedplunger 37 by means ofv switch contacts 34.

After the springfactuated plunger v*37 has been automaticallyreleased,the circuit may be again completed after theflron has cooled downsufficiently by pushing in on a pus button58 1)r causing the shoulderportion 39`fto drop in back of the la'tch'rf` ing member 40. j; y y y cThe use yandoperation rof the iron has "been outlined in connection withthe description of the construction. In use, the

pivoted latch member 40 is set at a position `that the` ironhas beenleft standing connected up with the electrical circuit, the'temperatureof 'the body portionwlt)y will rise because of the slow conductionof-the heat away from the `face of the iron. This rise of temperaturewill cause thek thermostatlc element 16 to straighten out and will liftthe free end of the thermostatic element` to raise the lift rod 40. Whenthe lift rod 40 has been raised high enough to free the shoulder 39 ofthe spring actuated plunger from the latch member 40, the spring 44 willthrow the plunger 37 outwardly, moving the pivotal connection 38 of thespring past the dead center (the line connecting the pivotal point ofthe bridging member with the pivotal connection between the bridgingmember and spring) causing the bridging member to be moved out ofcontact with the switch-contact 34 and breaking the circuit anddisconnecting the heating element 11.

It will be seen that if the user of the iron finds that the switch opensat a temperature which is lower than is required for the class of goodsupon which the work is beingy done, and that it is therefore desirablethat the switch be set to open at af considerably higher temperature,thisk condition'may be met by simply depressing the lever 40 by placingthe thumb upon the button which is carried thereby. The lever may bemoved only a sufficient distance to slightly raise` the latchl orretaining portion 390i the lever a short distance, or it may bedepressedv until the switch stem is raised against the upper edge of theopening in the standard 31. Inv this latter case the thermostat will notbe permitted to release the switch and allow it to open as long as theoperator continues to hold down the button. It is thus possible duringthe use of this iron to regulate the temperature to suit the user or theclass of goods being worked upon.

Having thus described my lnvention, what I claim as new and desire tosecured by Let-v ters Patent is:

1. An electric iron comprising a body'portion provided with an electricheating element and a handle, a switch in said'handle arranged to befmanually set in open or,

closed condition, thermostatic means for opening theswitch uponvrisebftemperature ln-the irony to apredetermined point,

and means arranged for manual setting and` capableof being set while theiron "is in use for :raising the temperaturey at which' said switch willbe opened by the thermostatic means.

2. `An electric iron comprising an electric heating element, a switchcarried b v said iron, thermostatic means carried by said iron foropening said switch upon rise of temperature in said iron to apredetermined point, and means arranged for manual operation while theiron is inuse for preventing the opening of said switch by saidthermostat.

3. An electric iron comprisinga body portion provided withy an electricheating element, a handle for said iron, a switch arranged in saidhandle, said switch 'tending to open, and adapted to be set in closedcon; dition, thermostatic means arranged to release said switch andpermit it to open when the temperature of the iron reaches apredetermined point, and means arranged for manual operation and capableof being used while the iron is in use for retaining the switch inclosed condition against the tendency of the thermostatic means torelease said switch.

4. An electric iron comprising an electric heating element, a handleyfor the iron, a switch adapted to be set in closed condition,

thermostatic means for opening said switch temperature, higher than thatat which the switch would otherwise be opened, has been reached by theiron.

5. An electric iron comprising a body portion provided with an electricheating element, a handle portion for manipulating said body portion, aswitch mounted on said handle portion for controlling current to saidheating element, and means for controlling` said switch comprising aspring pressed releasable plunger extending out at the front end of thehandle, a thermostatic element mounted on said body portion, and a liftrod extending from said thermostatic element up to the spring actuatedplunger to actuate said plunger and control said switch.

6. An electric iron comprising a body portion provided with an electricheating element, a handle portion for manipulating said body portion, aswitch mounted on said handle portion for controlling the current tosaid heating element, and means 'for controlling said switch comprisinga spring pressed releasable plunger extending out at the front end ofthe handle, a thermostatic element mounted on said body portion and alift rod extending from said thermostatic element up to the portion ofsaid plunger extending out of said handle to actuate said plunger andcontrol said switch.

7 An electric iron having a quick make and break switch, means tendingto open said switch, latching means for retaining said switch in closedcondition, thermostatic means arranged to disengage said switch fromsaid latch upon a sufficient rise in the temperature of the iron, saidlatch being manually adjustable to modify the action of the thermostaticmeans upon said switch.

8. An electric iron comprising a body portion provided with an electricheating element, a handle portionI for manipulating said body portion, aswitch mounted on said handle for controlling the current to saidheating element, said switch comprising a spring pressed releasableplunger and a plurality of means for controlling said plunger to controlsaid switch, said plurality of means comprising a thermostatic elementarranged to release said plunger and a button for manually preventingthe release of said plunger.

9. An electric iron comprising a heating element, a quick make and breakswitch, a handle for said iron inclosing said switch, an operatingmember for said switch extending from the front end of said handle, andcontact pins at the opposite end of said handle adapted for coperationwith a separable connector for supplying current to the iron.

l0. An electric iron comprising a body part, a heating element in saidbody part, a handle, a switch arranged within said handle and having amanipulating part extending4 from said handle, spring means tending toopen said switch, means engaging said switch for retaining the same inits closed condition against the tendency of said spring means to openthe same, a lift rod extending from said switch into said body part,thermostatic means within said body part arranged to thrust said liftrod against the manipulating part of said switch, and disengage the samefrom said retaining means, and adjustable means for regulating thetemperature at which said thermostatic means is permitted to disengagesaid switch from said retaining means.

1l. An electric iron comprising a body portion provided with an electricheating element, a handle portion for manipulating said body portion, aswitch for controlling the circuit in said electric heating element, alatch for holding said switch in on position, and a thermostatic elementfor releas ing said latch, said latch being manually adjustable when inuse to control the releasing action ci' said thermostatic element onsaid switch.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN.

